To protect and preserve the cultural resources of the Majuli Island, the Assam Government has enacted “ The Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Act, 2006,” the Lok Sabha was informed today.
According to UNI report, under the Act, the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority and an Executive Group have been notified by the State Government, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said in a written reply.
He said it has also sanctioned a sum of Rs 185 lakhs for the improvement of the physical infrastructure of the Sattras.
Under its Majuli Development Project, the State Government has sanctioned a cultural Centre for propagation of and training in Sattriya and Folk dance and has also given funds for the development of an ethnic village for the conservation and promotion of the island’s tribal culture. Regular workshops and training programmes are organised under the aegis of the Cultural Centre.
Narayanasamy said manuscripts lying in the Sattras have been surveyed and documented by the National Manuscript Mission.
He said as a prerequisite to the enlistment of the site in the World Heritage List, Majuli Island is included in the Tentative list of UNESCO. The process for its renomination for inscription in the World Heritage List under the “ Cultural category” has been initiated. A consultant is being appointed for the preparation of its nomination dossier which would, inter-alia, bring out its Outstanding Universal Value (UOV). International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body of UNESCO for World heritage inscription, would also be invited for site visit to evaluate and ascertain the OUV of Majuli Island, he added.